Contributions by Randall Handorf

Much has been made of the successful election bid of Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts, and rightly so.  Word of his victory dominated the news cycle within minutes of the Associated Press calling the election.  But the MSM has missed the story within the story to the surprise of…well, no one really.

The REAL story started after the victory party.  It was altogether expected that the Democrats would circle the wagons and start pointing fingers, but several unexpected things happened as well.  For one, many prominent senior democratic officials immediately began back pedaling on the projected fortunes of the fate of healthcare overhaul, whilst the other end of the collective democratic mouth was simultaneously vowing to push the current legislation through–even the Exalted One Himself–had proclaimed a cease fire within the halls of Congress until Brown is seated.  Not content to express only a single opinion, Obama also opined through henchman Robert Gibbs that “we can and should get health care reform done this year”.   This is of course pure silliness as Scott Brown ran on the “41 platform” meaning he owes his very presence in Washington to the promise he made to reject any attempt to pass healthcare legislation as it is currently constituted.

Still, this isn’t the REAL story.  Perhaps the real story is this: Democrats Seek Quiet Exit From Healthcare Overhaul Debacle; Exit Stage Extreme Left.  But fellas, how can you make such an egregious claim?  See, the Democrats have had a year of unlimited power, unfettered by such trifle notions as respect for the minority, or procedural limitation, and still, after a full year of complete executive and legislative control, they have failed to produce the goods.  “Goods” here is of course a misnomer of the highest order, but one can’t help but feel that Dems believe they’ve been sold a bill of ‘em!  Reception of healthcare legislation has been tepid at best, in both political and non political circles and I’ll be damned if the Democrats aren’t upset by the fact that the people they represent just can’t see what a good thing they’re passing up.  People all across the nation have been looked down upon by the left in Washington, and while such treatment has traditionally been reserved for Republicans in “flyover country” it seems to have given way to non exclusive condescension.  Anyone who doesn’t understand the sheer brilliance of a government takeover of a full sixth of the U.S. private sector is seen as a roadblock, or know-nothing regardless of political affiliation.   While I would agree with many on the left that this election was not a referendum on Obama himself, any intellectually honest individual would have to admit that Obama’s policies were clearly on the ballot.  While some attribute these policies to Nancy Pelosi (because who doesn’t love to hate her), let’s be perfectly clear about this: those policies are one and the same.  The only solution for a young first term President, seeking what all first term presidents want, a second term, is to dive for the center in a sort of fumble recovery.  This happened to Clinton in ’94.  It seems that Obama was given a full year and then some less before the first major turnover.

To be fair, not everyone would agree that Obama is even turning toward the center, much less ready to dive for it, lest he grass stain that pretty mug of his.  But it is our contention that you won’t see the dive coming.  The plan is to walk away.  Like criminals heading into the street after a bank job, just whistle and walk slowly, try to blend in.  They won’t advertise their defeat;  That would be owning it.  And they needn’t attempt to justify such a failure to their base, or the MSM.  They will simply blame the evil Republican obstructionists (despite having a year of only democratic obstruction to deal with).  No just whistle and walk slowly.  The demise of this legislation is all but certain.  Oh, don’t be surprised if they pass a “healthcare bill” similar in construction to a non binding U.N. resolution which is rather like passing nothing at all.  But don’t look to see anything substantive pass through those halls anytime soon.  And don’t kid yourself, Obama and the majority of Dems, see just what they’ve been looking for since August: an exit strategy.